competition news New support for leading event riders


Top Irish eventer Padraig McCarthy and leading young event rider Emily King have joined the team of riders supported by Horsehage.


Married to Team HorseHage event rider, Lucy, (née Wiegersma), it was a natural progression for Padraig to come on board, ensuring their whole yard of horses will be fed HorseHage dust-free bagged forage when travelling and competing.


Originally from Tipperary in Ireland, Padraig has been involved with horses from a young age and trained under the guidance of Rolf Goran Bengtsson, Max Hauri and Hans Horn followed by almost ten years spent show-jumping and training horses of all levels in Europe and the USA.


In 2003 he made the decision to go to university to study Business and graduated with a first class honours degree in Economics and Finance with German in 2008. He was offered a scholarship to undertake a research project which turned into a PhD study of business insolvency laws in Ireland. Despite having published book chapters and academic journals, Padraig realised this wasn’t the life for him and he decided to return to his real passion of horses.


Making the switch from show- jumping to eventing, he rode at his first BE event in 2013 and has climbed up through the ranks extremely quickly. By the end of the 2015 season he had ridden for Ireland on several eventing Nations Cup teams, including the team that placed 4th at Aachen and the only Irish team to win


an FEI Eventing Nations Cup at Boekelo. He was a member of the 2015 Irish European Championship team at Blair Castle and in 2016 he had his first three wins at 3* level, claiming victory at both Chatsworth and Tattersalls. As a result of this he was selected for the Rio Olympics on both his top horses, Simon Porloe and Bernadette Utopia. With a great eye for recognising talented young horses, Padraig has built up a wide client base who value his knowledge and experience and with Lucy, he set up their successful business, MGH Sport Horses in 2014, based in Devon, breeding, training and selling equines for show-jumping and eventing and also coaching riders.


Similarly Emily King’s mother Mary is already a very valued member of the Horehage team, and now Emily will join her as an ambassador for the product. Based in Devon, the King family could certainly be classed as eventing royalty. Mary has represented Great Britain at no fewer than six Olympics, spanning 20 years from 1992 to 2012 and has an impressive number of world and European medals to her name as well as being British Open Champion four times. She has also won the prestigious four star Badminton Horse Trials twice as well as winning at Burghley and Kentucky. Following in her mother’s


footsteps, Emily, who is just 21 years of age, competed at her first event aged just 12 and represented Great Britain at the age of 15, finishing 7th overall. She won individual silver at the Junior Europeans in 2012, team gold in the Young Rider Europeans in 2015 and in the same year made her four-star debut.


Said Chris Tar of HorseHage: “HorseHage is a family business and we value the strong team relationships that these riders have, but still keeping their competitive edge with each other. For further information visit www. horsehage.co.uk


Emily King


Padraig McCarthy in action across country Enjoy hospitality at Bolesworth International


Looking for a fantastic day or evening out, watching the leading names in the world of dressage and show jumping, in a stunning setting while eating delicious food and enjoying high- end hospitality? It can be done this summer!


The 2017 Equerry Bolesworth International Horse Show is the place to be for one of the very


best luxury equestrian hospitality experiences in the world with the sumptuous marquee overlooking the international arena.


This year’s event takes place from June 14 to 18 in the stunning grounds of Bolesworth Castle near Tattenhall, Chester.


The five-days offer a unique experience, combining top-level


dressage and showjumping competitions with great shopping, a host of thrilling water sports on the lake and fun family entertainment.


Enjoy the sheer elegance of the dressage competitions drawing an international field, including the renowned Carl Hester on the Wednesday and Thursday.


Carl will compete in the CDI***, and is set to wow spectators on the first afternoon of the show with a demonstration of his wealth of knowledge as both an internationally-acclaimed rider and trainer.


Following the demonstration there will also be a ‘Question & Answer’ session with Carl in the International Arena.


Dressage fans can enjoy watching top horses and riders over the first two days of the show, with the competition focus getting underway on Wednesday, June 14 with the CDI*** Grand Prix at 2pm and the Inter 1 Freestyle at 6pm.


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Thursday, June 15 promises a full day of thrilling competitions, with the Prix St George invitational event, the 5, 6 & 7-year-old Future Dressage Horse Competitions, which will be viewing trials for the World Breeding Championships, the Grand Prix Special – and then culminating in the early evening Freestyle Final.


Then on the Friday evening get the chance to experience some heart-stopping moments as the daredevil show jumpers attempt the famous big red wall during the Equitop Myoplast Puissance.


Watch the excitement unfold during the CSI**** International, held in the magnificent international arena complete with its very own moat, where the top showjumpers will be competing for a record prize fund.


A variety of hospitality packages are available throughout the show. To book, (01829) 307676 or visit www. bolesworthinternational.com


www.theequinesite.co.uk


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